Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Monday, May 18, 2026
Vingegaard Marks 50th Career Win with Solo Stage 9 Victory atop Corno alle Scale
Jonas Vingegaard delivered a climbing masterclass on Stage 9 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, launching a solo attack in the final kilometre of the Corno alle Scale summit finish to claim his second stage win. Felix Gall had broken clear with 3km remaining, pulling Vingegaard along, but the Visma–Lease a Bike Dane struck under the flamme rouge to drop the Austrian. Gall finished second, losing 11 seconds, while Davide Piganzoli pipped Thymen Arensman for third. The victory was Vingegaard’s 50th career win. He cut 51 seconds from maglia rosa Afonso Eulálio, reducing the overall deficit to 2:24 with ten stages remaining.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Eulálio Leads Giro GC at Rest Day as Vingegaard Closes to Within 2:24
Despite Jonas Vingegaard’s two stage wins in three days, Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) continues to wear the maglia rosa at the 2026 Giro d’Italia’s first rest day, holding a 2:24 advantage over the Dane. Felix Gall sits third overall at 2:59, with Jai Hindley (Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe) and Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) rounding out the top five. Vingegaard leads the mountains classification, while Paul Magnier holds the points jersey. The GC picture has sharpened considerably: Vingegaard appears a class above on steep climbs, but Tuesday’s 42km coastal time trial from Viareggio to Massa could yet reshuffle the standings.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Stage 10 Preview: Giro’s Only Time Trial Takes Riders along Tuscan Coast to Massa
The 2026 Giro d’Italia resumes Tuesday with Stage 10, the race’s only individual time trial: a 42km course along the Versilian coastline from Viareggio to Massa. The largely flat parcours features two U-turns and a technical closing kilometre, favouring explosive specialists over pure climbers. With Afonso Eulálio leading Jonas Vingegaard by 2:24 in the general classification, every second could prove decisive. Vingegaard is known for his time trial ability alongside his climbing, and will be expected to reduce the gap further. The stage represents the midpoint of the 109th Giro d’Italia and sets up what promises to be a pivotal second half through the Dolomites and Alps.
Sources: Cyclingnews
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Win Four Stages from Eight with Just Five Riders Remaining
UAE Team Emirates-XRG entered the 2026 Giro d’Italia with nine riders but were reduced to just five after a mass crash on Stage 2 forced Tadej Pogačar, Isaac del Toro, and João Almeida to abandon. Rather than capitulate, the surviving squad responded by winning four of the next eight stages. Jhonatan Narváez took two stage wins, Igor Arrieta claimed Stage 5 in Potenza with a dramatic last-gasp surge, and a fourth win followed before the first rest day. The remarkable run reflects extraordinary team depth — UAE recorded 97 wins from 20 different riders in 2025. Stripped of their GC leaders, the depleted squad now races with complete freedom.
Sources: Cyclingnews
Bredewold Finally Claims Itzulia Women Overall Title at Third Attempt
Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) secured the overall title at Itzulia Women 2026 on Sunday in Donostia-San Sebastián, catching a leading group in the final kilometre to defend the race lead she had held since Friday’s opening stage win. Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) won the final stage for the second consecutive day, with Évita Muzic and Lauren Dickson (FDJ United-Suez) completing the stage podium. Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Premier Tech) finished second in the overall classification, 21 seconds behind Bredewold, with Dickson third. The result ends Bredewold’s wait for a maiden Itzulia Women title after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the two previous editions of the three-day Basque Country event.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Stomach Illness Derails Pellizzari on Stage 9, Drops to Ninth in General Classification
Italian climber Giulio Pellizzari endured a difficult Stage 9 at the 2026 Giro d’Italia, suffering from stomach illness that saw him cross the Corno alle Scale finish line 1:28 behind stage winner Jonas Vingegaard. The VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faber rider had impressed earlier in the race, including a strong performance on the Blockhaus summit finish, but illness forced him well off his usual climbing pace. His team confirmed the condition via social media post-stage. Pellizzari slipped from sixth to ninth in the general classification, now 5:15 from the race lead. His fitness ahead of Tuesday’s 42km time trial will be closely monitored during Monday’s rest day in Tuscany.
Sources: Cyclingnews
Narváez Delivers Solo Attack to Win Stage 8 for UAE’s Fourth Giro Stage in Eight Days
Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivered a powerful solo attack to win Stage 8 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, the “Tappe dei Muri” stage from Chieti to Fermo on Saturday. The Ecuadorian broke clear from a three-rider group in the final 10 kilometres, reaching the line alone to take his second stage win of this Giro and UAE’s fourth from eight stages. The performance was all the more remarkable given the team is racing with just five riders following their Stage 2 mass crash. Narváez’s win reinforced UAE’s depth and fighting mentality, with the survivors operating freely after losing their GC leaders to injury on day two.
Sources: Cyclingnews
General Classification
GC Top 5 — After Stage 9
1. Afonso Eulálio — Bahrain Victorious
2. Jonas Vingegaard — +2:24 | Visma–Lease a Bike
3. Felix Gall — +2:59 | Decathlon CMA CGM
4. Jai Hindley — +4:32 | Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe
5. Christian Scaroni — +4:43 | XDS Astana
Other Classifications
Jersey Leaders
🏘 Maglia Rosa: Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious)
💚 Mountains: Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike)
💘 Points: Paul Magnier
Stage 10: 42km ITT, Viareggio to Massa — Tuesday May 19
Curated by JD · samwise.agency